Description

Anthropology is the study of people. In this discipline, people are considered in all their biological and cultural diversities, in the present as well as in the prehistoric past and wherever people have existed. Students are introduced to the interaction between people and their environments to develop an appreciation of human adaptations past and present.

Anthropology can be a synthesizing focus for data from many fields of inquiry and has integral importance in preparing students to survive and play positive roles in our emergent transcultural world. Students can pursue careers in teaching, research and other fields after completing graduate work.

At PCC, the general anthropology and cultural anthropology sequences are offered yearly. All other courses may be offered less frequently. The department suggests, but does not require that students take cultural anthropology and field archaeology in sequential order.

Courses

ATH 101. Introduction to Physical Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Presents physical anthropology and the study of human biological evolution in the context of modern genetics and primate behavior studies. Examines human fossil record, as well as the diversity and commonality of present and past populations of humankind. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 102. Introduction to Archaeology and Prehistory. 4 Credits.

Introduces methods and techniques used by archaeologists to study the development of human culture. Provides a survey of world prehistory, while emphasizing the development of social complexity and the origins of agriculture that precede both new and old world civilizations. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 103. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Examines modern human cultures. Analyzes a variety of ethnographic examples from various world societies to understand the diverse aspects of language, technology, economy, social structure, governance, religion, world views and expressive aspects of life. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 207. Cultural Anthropology: Culture Concepts. 4 Credits.

Examines different schools of anthropological thought and the concept of culture from a historical perspective. Emphasis placed upon the importance of culture in explaining similarities and differences in our evolving world system. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 208. Cultural Anthropology: Cultures of the World. 4 Credits.

Introduces ethnographic descriptions of a representative sample of the cultural variations among contemporary peoples. Compares various subsistence systems and levels of socio-political integration. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 209. Cultural Anthropology: Cultural Growth & Change. 4 Credits.

Examines processes of cultural growth and change, the development of contemporary anthropological theory and the rapidly growing fields within applied anthropology. Ethnographic techniques presented so students may use them to examine the changing culture of our complex society. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 210. Selected Topics Ethnology:. 4 Credits.

Introduces life styles and interactions with their environments of peoples in a selected part of the world. Uses ethnographic and other information for concentrated study of the cultural diversity and environmental adaptations of those peoples. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 211. Selected Topics in Anthropology. 4 Credits.

Focuses on a specific anthropological topic and explores it in detail. Topics are drawn from the four sub-fields of anthropology and provide an in depth examination and analysis of the chosen subject. Topic specific theories and methods also highlighted. Audit available.

ATH 212. Introduction to Shamanism. 4 Credits.

Examines shamanism as it is practiced in various cultures around the world. Students will be introduced to the shamanic cosmologies, values and world views of different tribal societies and use participant-observation to explore different styles of shamanic journeying. Core shamanism and the interface of shamanism and modern medicine and psychotherapy will be explored. Prerequisite: WR 121 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores, and ATH 103 or instructor permission. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 214. Human Environments: Ecological Aspects. 4 Credits.

Examines ecological relationships between human societies and their natural environments. Clarifies the human's biological relatedness to the world's natural ecosystems and then presents a look at the ensuing disruptions in nature and in human cultures. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 230. Native Americans of Oregon. 4 Credits.

Presents the history of anthropological research and the prehistory, languages and culture areas of Oregon's native peoples. Individual native groups are studied to better depict the life ways of Oregon's major cultural and geographic divisions. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 231. Native Americans of the Northwest. 4 Credits.

An in-depth survey of the native peoples of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Southwest Canada. Individual native groups are studied to depict cultural variation within the region. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 232. Native North Americans. 4 Credits.

Surveys anthropology and distribution of the native North American peoples. Presents history of anthropological research and the prehistory, languages and culture areas of native North America. Specific native groups will be surveyed to better depict the life ways of the major cultural and geographic divisions. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.

ATH 234. Death: Crosscultural Perspectives. 4 Credits.

An interdisciplinary study into cross-cultural variations regarding human responses to death and the differing cosmological implications these suggest. Death, a cultural universal, is addressed in its diversity from both anthropological and sociological perspectives. The subject of death as experienced by several major regions and cultures of the world is explored, including Asia, India, Bali, Middle East, Melanesia and Native American; historical trends in Western Europe and Americas are assessed regarding the evolution of contemporary perspectives on mortality. ATH 234 and SOC 234 cannot both be taken for credit. Recommend: A course in Anthropology or Sociology. Audit available.

ATH 235. Survey of Prehistoric Mexico and Central America. 4 Credits.

Study of the development, form and history of pre-Columbian Indian civilizations, surveying the achievements of the Maya, the Aztec and their neighbors. Audit available.

ATH 298. Independent Study: Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Individualized, advanced study in areas of anthropology not considered in other courses, to meet special interests or program requirements. Complete a term project and readings approved by the instructor. Recommended: prior study in anthropology and instructor permission. Audit available.